GIANTS FANTASY NEWS

March 2, 2006 1:00 PM ET

That the Giants rolled to an 11-5 record and won the NFC East was quickly forgotten after they were run out of the postseason—at home, no less—in the opening round. The league's most potent offense over the first half of the season generated a meager132 yards, nine points, and zero points in that playoff loss.

So, where do the G-Men go from here? The roster won't turn over much—all 11 offensive starters are under contract for 2006, and the plan is to use what little cap space the Giants do have to retain one or two of their defensive starters who can test the free agent market. But questions need to be answered. Was Tiki Barber's post-playoff loss assessment that the Giants were outcoached accurate? Did we see an aberration or the real Eli Manning in his three-pick postseason performance? Or was it just a bad day after a solid season, something the Giants can erase with improvement from within?

Needs
The Giants would like to believe they've got the majority of the components for success in place, and if their performance early last season is any indication they're right on course. Manning emerged as the franchise quarterback the Giants thought they were getting when they dealt two first-round picks for him in 2004, but the real key was another superlative season from Barber.

However, the Panthers provided a blueprint for stopping the Giants in the playoffs, removing Barber from the game and forcing Manning to provide the spark; obviously, he failed to do so. With Tiki north of 30 years old, you have to believe his past two seasons were the apex of his career, so the Giants will need to find a way to win without him sooner rather than later.

Tiki's eventual replacement is likely on the roster, unless Brandon Jacobs turns out not to be the Hall of Famer the Gotham media made him out to be prior to last season. He certainly contributed in short-yardage and goal-line situations, but he has 99 rushing yards for his career—a number Tiki topped in four games last December alone. That's a worry for down the road, however, as the Giants want to win now and Tiki isn't going anywhere.

Manning obviously solidifies the quarterback situation, if for no other reason than the fact that the Giants are so heavily invested in them it would be suicide to even think about augmenting the position with anything other than a veteran backup as insurance. And it's easy to overlook the fact that Manning has just 25 NFL games under his belt and is still learning the pro game.

Eli's receiving corps is also in decent shape, with tight end Jeremy Shockey and wideouts Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer all returning. However, outside of Tiki the rest of the Giants' roster caught just 39 balls, and the next three wideouts and two tight ends on the depth chart can all test the free agent market. Moreover, Toomer is in the twilight of his career and could use some help, so the Giants will likely address the receiver position via free agency or the draft this offseason.

Coughlin assembled solid offensive lines in Jacksonville and is on his way to doing the same in the Big Apple. Don't be surprised if the Giants look for a tackle they can groom on the first day of the draft, and there's a need for depth as well, especially in the interior.

The Giants would have liked to keep linebacker Nick Greisen, but the two sides differ on his value and he'll become an unrestricted free agent. Same goes for defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy, though the team has a better shot of bringing him back for next season. The Giants are already resigned to losing corner Will Allen, another UFA whom they believe will be too expensive for their tastes, and safety Shaun Williams is set to be a cap casualty as well. Their replacements will likely come from the lower end of the free agent pool or perhaps the first day of the draft.

Salary Cap Situation
The Giants are approximately $3.3 million under the projected $92 million salary cap for 2006, according to ESPN.com.

Unrestricted Free Agents
QB Tim Hasselbeck, RB Chad Morton, WR Tim Carter, T Bob Whitfield, DT Kendrick Clancy, LB Nick Greisen, CB Will Allen

Restricted Free Agents
WR David Tyree, WR Willie Ponder, TE Visanthe Shiancoe, TE Sean Burton, DT Kenderick Allen, CB Frank Walker

Free Agent Signings
None.

The Draft
With Allen and Williams likely headed out of the Big Apple, the Giants will focus on secondary help in the early rounds of the draft. Conventional wisdom suggests the G-Men will pluck one of the talented defensive backs that should be available with their 25th overall selection. Names bandied about include Clemson's Tye Young, Ohio State's Ashton Youboty, and USC's Darnell Bing. However, Greisen's expected departure could expand the top of the Giant's draft board to include linebackers like Alabama's DeMeco Ryans, Florida State's Ernie Sims, or Ohio State's Bobby Carpenter.

It would be surprising if Tom Coughlin's second-round selection also didn't come from the defensive side of the ball. Several solid defensive backs such as Miami's Kelly Jennings, Texas's Cedric Griffin, and Penn State's Alan Zemaitis could be on the board, along with linebackers like Iowa's Abdul Hodge, Florida State's A.J. Nicholson, and Miami's Roger McIntosh. This could also be the spot where the Giants look for an offensive lineman, with quality big men like Georgia's Max Jean-Gilles and Oklahoma's Davin Joseph potential selections.

Outside of replacing any free-agent departures on defense, the Giants have no glaring holes to be addressed during the draft and as such will have the luxury of drafting everyone's favorite: the best player available.

Injury Watch
Aside from their wounded pride, the Giants finished the 2005 season in decent shape health-wise. Shockey hobbled to the end of the season on a bum ankle, but it didn't stop him from posting his best numbers as a pro, nor should it keep him from joining the club for offseason workouts. Both he and Burress may want to look at having their hands reattached; Plax led the NFC with 11 dropped balls, while Shockey was 10th in the conference with six. Linebacker Antonio Pierce was a monster in the middle until a high ankle sprain prematurely ended his season in early December. No surgery was required, and you'd like to think even an injury as nasty as a high ankle sprain will be healed by the time the Giants reconvene for workouts this spring.

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